The Top Five Issues Affecting Community Associations in 2012 - September 2012
I have dedicated a significant part of my law practice to Common Interest Community Associations, 教育居民和董事会，帮助他们了解自己的权利和社区的价值. As each year comes to an end, 经常有人问我，一年中影响社区协会的最重大问题是什么. 以下是2012年影响社区协会的五大问题.
(1) Records Copying Policy
What I am hearing: “I want copies of everything you have and, because I already pay assessments, I’m not going to pay for it.”
业主经常要求社区协会复印某些账簿和记录. 这些请求通常非常广泛，对协会来说可能非常昂贵. 为了使协会有效运作，这种成本必须转嫁给所有者. 在过去, 协会没有被要求有一个正式的成本表，以便向业主收取合理的费用来复制账簿和记录. The law has now changed. 7月1日生效, 2012, 房主协会和公寓协会想要向业主收取复制费用和制作账簿和记录相关的人工费用，必须采用成本表.
维吉尼亚州议会已修订维吉尼亚州法典第55-510(D)条《十大正规网赌网址》，规定. 在根据本条向信誉良好的会员提供任何帐簿和记录的副本之前, the association may impose and collect a charge, reflecting the reasonable costs of materials and labor, not to exceed the actual costs thereof. 收费只可按照董事会根据本款通过的成本表征收. The cost schedule shall (i) specify the charges for materials and labor, (ii) apply equally to all members in good standing, 及(iii)在提出要求时提供给提出要求的成员.
除了, the Virginia General Assembly has amended Virginia Code §55-79.74.1(D) of the Virginia Condominium Act to provide:D. Prior to providing copies of any books and records, the unit owners’ association may impose and collect a charge, reflecting the reasonable costs of materials and labor, not to exceed the actual costs thereof. 收费只能按照执行机关根据本款通过的费用表征收. The cost schedule shall (i) specify the charges for materials and labor, (ii) apply equally to all unit owners in good standing, 以及(iii)在提出请求时提供给提出请求的单位所有者.
Over the past year, associations have anticipated this change. I am seeing an increase in questions regarding this change in the law. 如果你的业主协会或公寓协会没有采取这样的政策, 我建议协会联系其律师，对他们的政策进行审查，并采用正式的成本计划.
(2) Delinquent Assessments.
我听到的是:“我们有一个拖欠贷款的房主，他相信他也拖欠了抵押贷款, but the bank has not foreclosed. We are not getting dues. 我们能做些什么??”
许多房主因为最近失业，或者因为他们是小企业主，而生意由于经济疲软而下降，所以没有按时支付他们的评估. Since most delinquent homeowners are also underwater on their mortgage, there is nothing left to pay the association’s bills. As a result, community associations begin to run short on necessary funds.
我建议协会特别注意他们的预算和“坏账”计划。. 每个社区协会理事会都需要了解其管理文件中包含的、弗吉尼亚州法律规定的收集权力的性质. 最重要的是，他们必须有一个收集策略，并承诺执行它. 我发现自己在过去的一年里参加了一些会议，专门讨论协会有什么工具可以从拖欠业主那里收集. 除了, 各委员会一直在询问是否有可能修改其文件，以提供更广泛的收集权力.
(3) Distrust of Board Action.
What I am hearing: “My association’s Board recently passed an amendment. They didn’t follow the proper procedure…Their action was illegal. 我该怎么办呢??”
或许，我在2012年注意到的最重要的一件事是，人们越来越不信任董事会的行动. 我发现，越来越多的房主正在仔细审查董事会选择使用协会资金的方式. 他们很生气. 在过去的一年里，我发现我被要求审查协会的预算. I am also being asked to attend more meetings.
It is a tough time for many homeowners. I recommend that boards take this to heart, 试着更开放一点, 并在会议期间为房主提供额外的时间来表达他们的担忧和提出问题. I find this helps members (1) feel better about the issue, and (2) more fully understand why the board decided to take the action.
(4) Deferred Maintenance.
What I am hearing: “Roof, 操场上的设备, 池, 人行道上, 建筑物外观, 邮箱, 我们协会没有足够的钱来进行所有的维护. 我们能做些什么??”
Because of the economy, foreclosures and high delinquency rates, many associations have cut back on maintenance, 只关注那些至关重要的修复，而对其他需要的修复视而不见. 这是一种危险的做法，因为那些曾经“小”的修理很快就会变成“大”的修理. 我发现等待修理只会延长不可避免的事情, 最终, lead to higher net costs. It is better to complete the work in a timely fashion. At the very least, develop and implement a plan of action.
我建议协会考虑为维护和资本改善提供贷款. If the association can qualify, loan rates are low and now is a good time to, 至少, 考虑这个选项.
(5) Rental Restrictions.
我听到的是:“我们有几个业主无法出售他们的公寓，协会的租赁限制禁止他们出租. We do not want the home to fall into foreclosure. 我们能做些什么??”
Over the past several years, 我接到了公寓协会董事会成员打来的无数电话，他们要求我起草一份协会管理文件的修正案, restricting the number of renters allowed in the property. 今年, 然而, with home sales shrinking, foreclosures on the rise, and delinquencies growing, I am seeing a new trend. Associations are shying away from leasing restrictions.
除了, 我回答了越来越多来自业主和董事会成员的问题，他们问我是否有可能获得艰苦条件豁免，以及是否有可能放弃租赁限制.
写的 Jeffrey一. 胡恩.